Beet-topper.



l. M. SHERER.

am TOPPER.

APPLICATION FlLED OCT. 25 |915. LlSl Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET1 l. M. SHERER.

BEET TOPPER.

APPLICATION man ocT. 25. 1915.

11,23 il., Patented Jan. 30,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. M. SHERER.

BEET TOPPER.

APPLlcAnoN FILED ocr. 25. |915.

Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Syvum/Mofo d /W @fe/ef JOHN M. SHERER, OF AMERICA., ALABAMA.

BERT-TOPPER.

Application led October 25, 1915.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that T, JOHN M. Summa, a citizen of the United Sta-tes, residing at America, in the county of Walken State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet-Toppers; and T do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to beet toppers.

The object of the invention is te provide a beet topper embodying an improved construction whereby the tops are effectively cut, delivered laterally of the machine and raked into piles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a beet topper which will be simple in construction, efficient in operation and in which the operation of the various parts is easily controlled by the driver.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying` drawings wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a beet topper constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2, a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4e, a rear view of the topper; Fig. 5, a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a detail perspective view of the foot lever mechanism for controlling the operation of certain parts of the machine; Fig. 7, aside view of the machine, and Fig. 8, a view looking at the opposite side of the machine from that disclosed in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings the improved beet topper' is shown as comprising a frame A which includes side members 10 and 11, a front cross member 12 and an intermediate cross member 13. The side members 10 and 11 are connected adjacent their rear ends by an axle 1l upon the ends of which are rotatably mounted wheels 15 and 1G respectively. Fixed to the inner side of the wheel 15 is a beveled gear 17, while a beveled gear 18 is fixed to the inner side of the wheel 16.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ljatented Jan. 30., 19a?.

Serial No. 57,798.

Secured to the side members 10 and 11 and extending forwardly of the frame A is a yoke 19 upon the 'outer end of which is pivotally mounted an axle 20 having ,Wheels v 21 rotatably mounted on respective ends thereof. This axle 20 carries curved guide rods 22 disposed on the upper and under sides of the yoke 19 and serving to support the axle 20 during pivotal movement of the latter. The'cross members 112 and 13 are extended at one end as at 23 and 2st and rotatably mounted between these extensions is a shaft 25 having rollers 2G fixed thereon between the extensions 23 and The under sides of the extensions 23 and 2% are connected by a plate 27 while the outer ends of said extensions are connected by a rod 28. Mounted on the extension 2-1 is a guide plate 29 and traveling on the rod 28 and rollers 26 is an endless apron 30.

Pivoted on the axle 14 are angle foot levers 31 and 32 adapted to be held against pivotal movement in one direction by eugagement with a toothed bracket 33 secured to the axle 14. The shaft 25 is extended rear f'ardly over the axle 14 and rotatably engaged in one end of the lever 31 and has fixed thereon a beveled gear 34 which meshes with the gear 17. It will be noted that the bearings of the shaft 25 in the extensions 23 and 24 are somewhat loose so that by pivoting the lever 31 the gear 84 can be moved into and out of mesh with the gear 17 and the operation of the apron 30 thereby controlled. The end of the members 12 and 13 remote from the apron 30 are extended and have mounted thereon respectively bearings 35 in which is loosely journaled a shaft 3G. The forward end of this shaft 3G has fixed thereon a spur gear 37, while the rear end thereof has fixed thereon a beveled gear 3S adapted to mesh with the gear 18. The rear end ofthis shaft 36 is rotatably engaged in one end of the lever 32 so that by pivoting the lever 32 in one direction the gear 38 can be moved out of mesh with the gear 1S, while opposite movement of the lever 32 will move the gear 3S into mesh with the gear 1S.

Mounted en the member 12 are spaced brackets 3) in which is rotatably mounted a. shaft 40. One end of this shaft 40 has fixed thereon a beveled gear 41 which meshes with a beveled gear Ll1 rotatably mounted on the member 12. This gear a1 includes a spur gear portion 4:2 which meshes with 12 and the gear 43 in turn meshes with the gear 37. The other end of the shaft 40 has suitably mounted thereon a` spirally ar-V ranged rib 42 for-a purpose that will presently appear. Secured to the front side of the extension 23 is a guide 43 in which is slidably engaged one end of a cutter 44. The other end of this cutter has secured thereto one end of a stem The other end of this stem l5 is pivotally connected to the gear 37 eccentric with respect to the latter and whereby rotation of the shaft 36 will reciprocate the knife 44.

From the foregoing construction it will be obvious that when the levers 3l and 32 have been positioned to throw the shafts 25 and 3G into operation movement of the machine along` the ground will effect cutting of the beet tops by reason of reciprocation of the cutter 44. rlhe severed top will then be moved by the rib 42 as a result of the rotation of the shaft 40 upon the apron 30, and discharged laterally of the machine by said apron.

Mounted on the rear ends of the side members l0 and ll respectively are brackets 4G and rotatably mounted in these brackets is a shaft 47 the end of which adjacent the apron 30 terminates in a head 4S carrying rake teeth 49. Fixed on this shaft 47 adj acent the side member 10 is a ratchet wheel 50 with which is adapted -to cooperate with a pawl 51 pivoted upon the side member 10. rThe end of the pawl 51 remote from the ratchet wheel 50 is provided with a slot in which is slidably engaged a stud 53 carried by a lever 54 which latter is pivoted on the member l0. By operating the lever 54 it will be obvious that the pawl 5l can be moved into and out of operative relation with respect to the ratchet wheel 50. lVhen the pawl 51 is in engagement with the ratchet wheel 50 it serves to prevent rotation of the shaft 47 under the influence of accumulated beet tops against the teeth 49.

When it is desired to release the beet tops l gathered by the teeth 49 it is only necessary to move the pawl 51 out ofengagement with the ratchet wheel 50 when the teeth 49 will swing rearwardly and pass over the accu-` mulated tops. As soon as the teeth 49 have `cleared the accumulated tops they will move cooperate during each revolution of the wheel with a pin G1 mounted on the shaft 47 for the purpose of slightly rotating said shaft and slightly rocking the lever 54 to` remind the operator that said lever should be actuated at that time to raise the rake.

W hat is claimed iszl. In a beet topper the combination of a wheeled frame, a shaft rotatably mounted on the frame, traction operated means for rotating said Shaft, a guide on said frame7 a knife having one end slidable `in said guide, a gear fixed on the shaft and having the other end of the knife secured thereto eccentrically, a second shaft rotatably mounted on the frame parallel 'to the direction of movement of the knife and directly above the latter, a gear fixed on the second shaft meshing with the gear on the rst shaft,rand a spiral rib on the second shaft for engaging the severed tops and moving said tops rearwardly of the frame.

2. In a beet topper, the combination of a wheeled frame, means for cutting the tops and delivering same laterally of the frame,

a rake rotatably mounted on the frame and positioned to gather the tops delivered laterally, a toothed wheel fixed on the rake, a pawl pivoted on the frame for cooperation with the wheel, and a lever on the frame having a stud slidable in a slot in the pawl. In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN M. SHERER.

Vitnesses:

(iLEs W JONES, J. AVERY ODAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents.

Washington, D. C. 

